The National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) markets itself as the official voice of the work truck industry-a bit of a feat since the work truck industry speaks many different languages.
In order to present one voice, NTEA must encompass diverse vocational needs ranging from refuse hauling to cement mixing, and from bucket trucks to snow plows, each specialization bringing its own set of problems and solutions to the table.
Tom Rawson, president, RKI, Inc., Houston, specializes in service bodies, cranes, winches and truck boxes. But that isn’t stopping him from lending a helping hand to other work truck specialists. This year, Rawson assumes the presidency of NTEA and gets ready to flex his trucking linguistics.
Rawson’s own company, RKI, has been around since 1911, successfully adapting to changes in the industry. The company started as a blacksmith shop, but began to sell truck parts as its main product line. Eventually, the company merged with Rawson Industries, Inc. RKI’s ties to the Rawson family date back to 1987.
Rawson pointed to discerning foresight as a big factor in his company’s success. “We try to see as far ahead as we can. We try to figure out what’s going to happen in the future and then we make adjustments before those things happen,” he said.
Rawson also quickly cited the quality of people with whom he works as an important company asset. When hiring, the company looks for happy, content people with good attitudes. If it comes down to hiring for skill or hiring for attitude, Rawson often chooses a winning demeanor over technical know-how.
“We look for people who seem intelligent. We try to treat everyone with respect and make this a place where people want to come to work. Our people have been a huge advantage for us,” Rawson said.
